DISEASES OF CHICKENS TREATMENT 341 



Going Light. 



This trouble may be due to insufficient or poor food, lack of exercise or 

 poorly ventilated houses. Lice or mites may be contributing cause, and it may 

 be due to some such disease as tuberculosis, aspergillosis or worms. 



Symptoms. "Going Light" is a term applied to fowls which lose weight 

 rapidly, become weak and emaciated without any apparent reason. When 

 lifted they seem to weigh little more than the feathers with which they are 

 covered. 



Treatment. First, if possible, discover the cause. If no defect is found 

 in the food and the fowls and houses are free from lice, much time may often 

 be saved by killing one or more of the birds and making a post-mortem ex- 

 amination to discover if the trouble is caused by some specific disease. Open 

 the intestines the entire length to learn if there are a sufficient number of 

 worms to account for their condition. If any diseased condition is found, 

 follow the treatment recommended for such disease found elsewhere in this 

 department. 



Indigestion. 



While this is not a disease, it leads to many. 



The cause of indigestion is traceable to improper feeding, the lack of 

 grit and to loss of vigor in the flock. 



Treatment. A well balanced ration, not too much bulky food, clean, fresh 

 water, birds kept in a dry, well ventilated house and compelled to take plenty 

 of exercise, will ordinarily put back into condition a deranged digestive tract. 

 Green food should be given poultry once every day in the year. * It invigorates 

 the liver, sends pure blood into the vital organs of the system, and will keep 

 them in better condition than all liver tonics combined. 



Inflammation of the Egg Passage. 



Inflammation of the egg passage may occur in connection with an egg- 

 bound condition. This condition is usually the result of too much fat and is 

 more frequently found in the larger breeds. Inflammation may be due to the 

 use of some of the egg-foods advertised to increase egg production and which 

 have an irritating effect if used too long. Many of these cases are due to a 

 retained egg that might be removed. The eggs are large, the passage is fatty, 

 an egg is retained and inflammation follows. 



Symptoms. There .is a constant desire to strain. The violent strain 

 sometimes ruptures a blood vessel and causes sudden death. The feathers 

 of the bird are ruffled and the wings droop as though there were a relaxing 

 of the muscles. The vent of the bird is hot, red and in motion. The tempera- 

 ture of the bird drops and death follows from the extended inflammation. 



Treatment. If the disease proceeds from the retained and perhaps broken 



egg, it must be removed at once. Oil the finger and carefully insert in the 

 passage. If the broken egg is within reach, it can, with patience, be re- 

 moved. If too far away, use injections of olive oil repeatedly. This will have 

 a soothing effect and tend to remove the broken or retained egg. 



